Texan Angela Stanford claims Volunteers of America title in a U.S. Women’s Open warm up
Angela Stanford clinched her seventh career title at the Volunteers of America Classic, holding off a host of South Korean superstars near her Forth Worth, Texas, home. The 43-year-old became the first over-40 player to win on the LPGA since Cristie Kerr claimed the 2017 Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia.
The best part: It’s the first time Stanford’s parents have been on-site for an LPGA win.
“You know after the major, it would’ve been easy to be satisfied,” said Stanford, referencing her Evian Championship win in 2018, “and I think I was for a little bit. But there’s something about bad golf ….”
That “bad golf” motivated Stanford to get better, and an improved short game allowed her to contend for the first time at the Old American Golf Club, where she held off former top-ranked players Inbee Park and So Yeon Ryu, two best friends who finished runner-up alongside hotshot rookie Yealimi Noh.
🏆#️⃣7️⃣
In her 20th year on Tour, @Angela_Stanford adds another trophy to her collection at the @VOAClassic pic.twitter.com/SLEsfcqU2y
— LPGA (@LPGA) December 6, 2020
Stanford’s closing 4-under 67 put her at 7-under 277 for the tournament, two clear of the field. Current No. 1 Jin Young Ko finished three back in solo fifth.
Earlier this year Pat Hurst named Stanford one of her assistant captains along with Michelle Wie. When asked if today’s strong form might put her in the running to be a playing assistant, Stanford said, “I’m not worried about it; I’m not thinking about it.”
Stanford is one of seven Texans in the field at next week’s U.S. Women’s Open at Champions Golf Club in Houston. Lindsey Weaver and Kristen Gillman, who also hail from the Lone Star state, tied for eighth at the VOA while Brittany Lang took a share of 11th.
